US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged top Israeli officials to “capitalize” on the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death in order to secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza and bring the war there to a close – but there is little evidence that either of those aims are within close reach.

New Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon added urgency to Secretary of State Antony Blinken's latest visit to the region. Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to redouble efforts to end the conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The U.S. secretary of state, visiting Israel, said the killing of Hamas’s leader last week could create an opening for peace, and he pushed the Israeli prime minister to allow more aid into Gaza.